Do You Have a Clinic Near You?

Have you ever wandered around your neighborhood or flipped through the yellow pages, wondering where the closest place to get STD tested was?

I have for sure -- especially when I'd just moved to the City and had to wait two months for an appointment with my OBGYN.

Well Planned Parenthood launched a pretty cool tool this month, a clinic finder that works anywhere in the country! So even if you're away from home and have a scare, you can find a clinic nearby. Check it out -- it's super easy. You just type in your zip code!

So, did you get tested yet this week? What was it like? Were you scared? Where did you go to get tested?

17 Year Olds Can Get Emergency Contraception Without a Prescription!

Great news!

Today the FDA announced that they would go along with a Federal Court's ruling that they make emergency contraception available over-the-counter to anyone over age 17.

Which is great news! Especially since, as the Federal Judge originally cited, the FDA decision to only make emergency contraception available over the counter to those 18+ was based on politics, not science. In fact the Judge said:

"These political considerations, delays and implausible justifications for decision-making are not the only evidence of a lack of good faith and reasoned agency decision-making. Indeed, the record is clear that the FDA's course of conduct regarding Plan B departed in significant ways from the agency's normal procedures regarding similar applications to switch a drug from prescription to non-prescription use."

The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the world, and it's always seemed like a mistake to me to keep teens from having as many tools as possible to prevent unintended pregnancies. Plus, even the FDA's panel of experts admitted that there was no medical reason to put an age restriction on emergency contraception.

But what do you think? Is the ruling a good thing? Did it not go far enough? Should there be an age limit? And have you ever taken emergency contraception? Could you get it over the counter, or did you need a prescription?

How has the economy affected your birth control?

Last night I was talking with a friend of mine who's recently been laid off, and the conversation turned to health care. She's lucky, her job is paying for her health insurance for an additional six months (or until she finds coverage elsewhere), but after that she's on her own. And it got me thinking, how much is the economy affecting all of our choices about birth control and health care?

At Planned Parenthood we definitely see a lot of uninsured patients - that's a part of being a safety net provider, and we even have a great program to help people get on public insurance if they qualify for it. An there have been a lot of stories about peoples' birth control decisions being affected by the economy.

But what about you? Have you made any decisions about your health based on the economy? Seen a doctor less? Switched birth control? Gone for a more long term option? Or is your life staying pretty much the same?

When was the last time you were tested for STDs?

Whether you lost your health insurance or are just plain lazy, you may have been putting off getting STD tested lately. But do you know how much of a risk you're facing?




Now you can! As a part of Get Yourself Tested month, Planned Parenthood has made it simple to do a quick assessment of what STDs you might be at risk for via an online quiz. Of course you should all be getting tested on a regular basis anyway - it's just common sense.

What about you guys? When was the last time you were tested? Do you get nervous before you go?

To Do: Support Clinic Access on your lunch hour

Sick of eating lunch at your desk? Well, PPNYC has something pretty special going on tomorrow during your lunch hour: the City Council is voting on (and approving we hope!) the Clinic Access Bill an important piece of legislation that will help protect our reproductive health care clinics as well as our patients.

That's right even in 2009, patients and staff at reproductive health care centers deal with harassment and intimidation by protesters outside. This bill will help make sure that doesn't happen -- removing a barrier to health care at a time when people are already struggle to get access to care. Doesn't that sound like a good reason to come down to City Hall and celebrate its passage?

So, if you're so inclined, don your Planned Parenthood T Shirt and come on down to City Hall to show your support. We'll be gathering there at 1:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Cecile Richards Speaks at the WHite House on Health Care

President Obama held a summit at the White House to discuss health care reform, and our own Cecile Richards was there to speak! Watch the video below: